Spring equalizer system.



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W. W. PITTS.

SPRING EQUALIZER SYSTEM.

APPLiGATION FILED SEPT.5, 1912.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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lumwdioz W. W. PITTS.

SPRING EQUALIZER SYSTEM. APPLIGATION FILED sums, 1912.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i of the shock absorbing springs designates the frame or UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WIRT PITTS, or AUSTIN, Texas, assioruoa or own-rovers TQ CLARAm.

PITTS AND ONE-FOURTH TO JENNIE M. PITTS, BOTH Q AUS I T XAS- srnme neuaiiznn svs'rnm.

Specification p1 Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

Application filed September 5, 1912. Serial 1Y0. 718,688.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WIRT Prr'rs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Austin in the county of Travisand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring Equalizer Systems, of which the following is a specification,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in springequalizing systems for motor vehicles, and more par ticularly to an egulizer of the cantaliver type, the invention" aying for its primaryobject the provision 'of simple and novel means whereby stress exertedat any point is equally distributed to the equalizing springs andentirely absorbed and shock or jar to the body of the vehicle thusobviated.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an equalizing system of theabove character including a pair of springs carried by the vehicleframe, and equalizing means conneeting the opposed ends of said springswhereby stress exerted upon one spring wili be partially transmittedthrough the equal izing means to the other of said springs.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a simple,durable and eflicient construction of the above character, the parts ofwhich may be manufactured at small costand readily assembled in theirproper operative positions.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,combinations and arrange inents 0f the parts that I shall hereinafterfnlly describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of my inventionapplied to the body of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a p an view of the same;Fig. 3 is a plan view and the equalizer connecting the same; and Fig. 4;is a detail perspective view of the equalizing member.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1

chassis of a motor vehicle and the numerals 2 and 3 indicate the frontand rear supporting axles respec- V 16 re pivotally connected, t

tively upon opposite ends of which the Wheels of any preferredconstruction are mounted in the ordinary manner.

The subject matter pf the present invention includes a pair ofvehiclesprings 4 and 5 respectively, each of which censists of aplurality of spring metal plates arranged upon each other as is cqiimon'in springs of this type. These rings intermediate of their ends aredisposed between the spaced hanger plates or brackets 6 which are boltedor otherwise secured to the longitudinal bars of the vehicle frame. Tothe central ortion of each spring, a bearing member s secured, saidmember being'fulcrumed for roclring movement upon a stud or bolt 7connecting the lower ends of the hanger plates 6. The rear end of thespring 5 is pivotally connected as at 9 to the rear veicle axle S Whilethe forward end of the spring 4 is novably mounted'upon the front axle 2of the vehicle, the inner ends of said springs being connected by theequalizer proper which will now be described in detail. To thelongitudinal bars of the frame chassis, intermediate of their ends, thedepending plates 10 are secured. Between these plates, the equalizingbeam 11 which is preferably of I-form in cross section is fulcrumed forvertical tilting movement. The ends of this I-beam are'pivotallyconnected to the inner opposed ends of the springs 4 and 5 respective yby means of links 12. pair of studs 13 project laterally frpm each sideof the I-beam 11, said studs being disposed equidistant upon oppositesides of the ongitudinal center ofv said beam. These studs have li itedmoveni nt in arcuate slots 14 provi ed in each 0 the plates L0. Thestuds are preferably threaded or otherwiseremovably' fitted into theopenings in the equalizer beam.

The forward ends of the longitudinal frame bars are connected'by me'ansof a transversebrace rod 15, and't ih ends 0 this rod, the forward endsf the lead bars he other ends-of sai bars being suitably secure o theforward vehicle axle 2. Sway braces 17 are also connected at theirforward ends to the ends of the brace rod 15 and have their other endsbolted or otherwise rigidly secure to the axle 2. Fromthis construction,it is apparent that the front axle may move freely in a vertical planewith relation to the vehicle frame while the lead bars and sway braceswill retain the front axle against horizontal movement when the vehiclerounds a curve.

The upper face of each lead bar has mounted thereon a roller 18 uponwhich the outer end of the spring 4 rests, thereby provlding a flexibleconnection "between said spring and the front axle, and permitting ofthe vertical movementof said axle. The inner end of each of the leadbars is provided with an angular portion or flange 19 which engages theunder face of the front end of the spring 4 when the axle 2 is forcedupwardly by the impact of the vehicle wheels with an obstruction oruneven road surface. A suitable housing 20 incloses the outer end of thespring 4 and the roller 18 is arranged between the same and the leadbar. This housing retains the spring and roller in proper position uponthe lead bar and protects the same against accumulations of dirt or mudso that the pro er action of the parts will be assured. It 1s understoodthat this arrangement of the vehicle supporting springs and theequalizer connecting the same is duplicated upon opposite sides of themachine frame.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe device will be clearly and fully understood.

In the event that either of the vehicle supporting axles is subjected toa sudden shock or jar, such shock will be transmitted through thesprings 4 or 5 as the case may be to the equalizing beams 11, which willbe tilted or rocked and thereby distribute a part of the strainorpressure to the other set of .springs. Thus it is seen that the shock orjar is equalized and absorbed by the respective springs, irrespective ofwhether the direct application of the pressure is as sumed by the frontor rear vehicle. supporting axle. equalizing beam is fulcrumed at twopoints between the bracket plates 10 so that the same may tilt from apoint at either side of its center and thus keep the load properlybalanced. i

It will further be seen that "when the springs 4 or 5 are subjected topressure, the

beam 11 will be swung upon its .pivot '13 will rest within the lowerendsof t e slots 14 and the springs 4 and 5 will then individually absorbthe ordinaryvibration exertedupon the respective axles.

While I have above described 'the pre ferred construction andarrangement of the It is further to be noted that the what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with amotor vehicle frame, axles carried thereby, brackets depending from saidframe, springs pivotally mounted at their medial portion to saidbrackets, the outer ends of said springs be ing connected to said axles,an I-beam pivotally connected to the inner ends of, said springs,bearing plates depending from said frame and having alimng arcuate slotsformed therein and the said Lbeam being pivotally mounted within saidslots substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle frame, of springs fulcrumedintennediate of their ends upon said frame, onelend of each spring beingconnected to the front and rear vehicle axles respectively,-an 8%alizing beam, spaced fulcrum pins carrie by said beam, hanger-platesfixed to the frame and having means to accommodate said pins and admitof their limited movement, said pins providing independent fulcrums forthe beam, and link connections between the ends of said beams and theinner ends of the respective springs. f

3. The combination with a motor vehicle, of a pair of springs pivotallycarried thereby, a double fulcrum equalizer connecting the inner ends ofsaid springs, the outer end of one spring-being pivotally connected tothe rear axle of the vehicle, theouter end of the other said springbeing slidably connected to the front axle of the vehicle, lead barsivotallyconnected at one end of the said rame, the opposite ends of saidlead bars being permanently connected to the front axle of the vehicleand sway braces pivotally connected to -the said frame and permanentlyconnected to the front axle substantially as and for the" purpose speckfied.

4. The combination with a'vehicle frame and supporting axles therefor,ofa pair of springs pivotally mounted intermediate of their ends uponthe frame and connected at one of their ends to the front and rearvehicle axles respectively, a hanger plate se-'.=

viding ndependentfulcrums for t ebeam in its rocking movement, and meansconnectmg the opposite ends of sald beam to the in ner ends of thesprings.

5. The combination with a vehicle frame= and supporting axles therefor,of spaced front andrear springs interposed between the frame and itssupporting axles to yieldingly prevent vertical relative movementthereof, an equalizing device connecting said springs, lead barspivotally connected to the forward end of the frame, and secured to thefront axle, a housing in which the for- Ward end of the front supportingspring disposed, and a roller arranged within said housing between thelead bar and said 15 spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix 1ny signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

WILLIAM VVlRT PITTS. lVitnesses W. B. PETERSON, CHESTER THRASHER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

